Match package



March 3, 1936. $.MIL'ONE MATCH PACKAGE Filed May 2, 1955 Patented Mar.3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH PACKAGE Application May 2,1935, Serial No. 19,508

6 Claims.

My invention relates to the so-called book matches, that is to say,match packages that include a cover within which the matches in acluster are secured and fro-m which a match at a time may be removed forlighting. Usually the cover which is of cardboard includes a hinged flapthat must be opened to give access to the matches for their removal oneby one. An object of my invention is to provide a match packagediffering in the particular that no cover must be opened to give accessto the matches and which must thereafter be closed and yet the matcheswhile completely protected by a suitable enclosure may easily or readilybe withdrawn from the package one at a time for ignition. Other objectsof my invention are to provide a match package having thecharacteristics just mentioned which will be unique and attractive inappearance and in the manipulations required to obtain a match forlighting and which will afford considerable space or area foradvertisements which are so important a feature of match packages. Otherobjects and advantages will appear fromthe hereinafter given detaileddescription or explanation of various embodiments of my invention shownin the drawing.

My invention consists in whatever is described by or is included withinthe terms or scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figs. 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and back views of amatch packageembodying my invention, a match being shown in position in Fig. 1 readyfor removal; I

Fig. 3 is a section on the line -3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in section of an embodiment of my invention suitablefor the use of refills without discarding the cover;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a refill construction of the vanity case typewith the cover made attractively of sheet metal;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the case alone shown in an open position;

Fig. '7 is a plan View of a portion of the back of the case shown inFigs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of my invention thatincludes an ash tray.

Briefly described, the various embodiments of my invention illustratedin the drawing include a shallow case or cover with spaced apart frontand back, and a disc-form match carrier rotatably mounted in the shallowspace thus provided within the cover and which supports or has attachedto the side thereof matches that radiate from the center with theirheadsoutermost, the

rim or periphery of the carrier being accessible at the rim of thecasing, for contact of the finger or fingers of the hand so that thecarrier and the circular group of matches thereon may be rotated topresent the headed ends of the matches successively at an opening in theside wall of the case for ready removal of a match and without thenecessity of opening the case or cover for that purpose. An importantfeature of the invention in each of the embodiments thereof shown in them drawing is the automatic protrusion or projection of the headedportion of a match when it comes to or opposite said openingsufiiciently away from the adjacent matches to enable the grasping bythe fingers of the headed part of such match for removal or detachmentfrom the carrier. It will be observed that all matches within the caseor cover at all times are wholly covered and protected from accidentalignition as by the striking of a detached match for even at the time onematch is presented for removal, the heads of all other matches arecovered by the casing walls.

Describing in detail what is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the case or coverhas a disc-form front wall it, and a disc-form back wall H, which con- 3veniently may be made by cutting from a single sheet of cardboard withan integral narrow tongue or web l2, joining them through a limitedextent of their peripheries which contributes to holding them in fixedrelative positions when as shown in Fig. 3, they are folded over inspaced apart parallel relation to provide room to accommodate disc-formmatch carrier l3, and the circular group or cluster of matches I 4,secured to one side of said carrier IS. The carrier I3 is ofsufficiently 35 greater diameter than the discs which form the front andback of the cover that, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it projects beyondthe cover rim so that it may be engaged by the finger or fingers andrevolved on a pivot l5, at the center of the cover. Preferably theprojecting rim of the carrier is is gently serrated to assure sufiicientgrip of the finger thereon to rotate it. The pivot i5 may be held inplace by a suitable fastener that passes through it and through theopposite front and back walls of the cover and thereby the parts held inproper relative position even under force applied to the carrier l3 torotate it.

As well shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the match splints slant slightly awayfrom the carrier I3, so that their head portions are spaced therefrom,so that the inner pointed or sharpened end of a tongue it, that extendsfrom the outer wall into the cover, may engage the splint as the splintrotates with the carrier and the headed end of the match 55 7 coveropposite the lifting tongue I6.

On the outside of the back wall II, a match striking or scratch surfaceI8, in the form of an oblong area of suitable extent may be provided andadjacent one edge thereof is hinged a flap I9, of oblong form that maybe turned on such edge to pinch an interposed match head against thestriker surface so as to insure the ignition thereof when drawn betweenthe adjacent surfaces. Such flap I9 may conveniently be formed by cutson three edges that sever it at such edges from the cover back and atthe same time provide a rectangular window or opening 20, through whichwhen the flap is turned over, the side surface of the match carrieropposite that which the matchesare secured will be exposed, and uponsuch carrier surface may be placed advertising matter which is broughtto view by the turning of the carrier. This enables the utilization ofsuch carrier surface for advertisement, and, of course, advertisingmatter may be placed upon the outer side of the back as well as thefront walls of the case. And, of course, the surfaces of the matchsticks or splints are available for advertisements and as the splints byreason of their circular and radial arrangement may be an outwardlyenlarging or tapering shape, such outer surfaces of the splints providea, substantial area for advertisements. The splints may be formed from adisc of heavy paper or cardboard separated from one another' at thesides by radial cuts or incisions. The splints may be separately formedand secured as by gluing to the carrier.

Referring to- Fig. 4, an inexpensive refillable type of match package isshown. Like the case or cover of Fig. 1, it comprises a case or coverwith a front I00, and a back IIO, joined by a narrow connection I20,which constitutes a hinge on which the backing cover may be opened asshown in Fig. 4, for placing therebetween the refill consisting ofrotatable carrier I30 and matches I40. To provide the connection betweenthe parts for use when the front and back are moved to positionsparalleland the pivot on which the match carrier and matches may beturned, the complementary members 2| and 22 of an ordinary snap fastenermay be employed.

Referring to Figs. and 6, a vanity case type of cover may be'employedwith front IOI and back I II joined at their peripheries by a hinge I2I,a common spring latch 23, being provided at the diametrically oppositeedge of the back III to snap or catch over the opposite edge of thefront ml at the center. The back II I has a circular boss or'projection24 on its inner face to provide the pivot for the rotatable matchcarrier.

4 As shown best in Fig. 5, only a portion of the periphery of the matchcarrier I3I need be exposed and small portions thereof may be exposed atdiametrically opposite side edges by slabbing off portions of thecircular case so that at other points of the periphery of the case, itwill be closed.

As shown in Fig. 8, a match package embodying my invention may be a partof an ash tray. As shown in Fig. 8, the match package is of the vanitycase type shown in Figs. 4 and 5, mounted in a vertical position at oneside of the tray.

Provision is made for the replacement of a striker strip which is apt tobe worn, and this is particularly desirable in the case of the refilltype embodiments of my invention. Accordingly, an additional strikerstrip is supplied that may be substituted for an old one.

Suitable provision is made for the ready or easy attachment of theadditional striker strip to the cover.

What I claim is:

1. A match package comprising a holding member with a match receivingspace, a plurality of matches within such space, means pivoting thematches as a unit in such space for bodily rotation therein, and meansfor bodily rotating the matches having a peripheral finger contactingsurface accessible at the periphery of the holder, said holder having aside wall perpendicular to the unit pivot, such side wall having a matchoutlet for matches presented thereto in succession and a match liftingtongue that is stationary and adjacent such outlet in the path ofrotation of matches of the unit.

2..A match package comprising a holding member with a match receivingspace, a plurality of matches within such space, means pivoting thematches as a unit in such space for bodily rotation therein, means forbodily rotating the matches having a peripheral finger contactingsurface accessible at the periphery of the holder, said holder having amatch outlet for matches presented thereto in succession, and astationary match engaging lifting tongue adjacent such outlet in thepath of rotation of the matches of the unit.

V 3. A match package, comprising a collection of matches, a case, meansrotatably supporting the collection of matches in the case for bodilymovement therein, the case having a match outlet to which, by suchbodily movement the matches may be presented successively, and a matchlifting tongue adjacent such outlet, having a free end in position toengage an approaching match, under which tongue the match by itsmovement passes.

4. A match package comprising a rotatable, match carrier and matchescarried thereby in a circular group with their heads outward, thematches lying fiatwise, and a case that includes at one side of thegroup of matches, a flat wall with an opening in its side, situated inthe path of the head portions of the matches, and a stationary tongueprojecting inward from said wall in the path of the head portions of thematches as they rotate in the case.

5. A match package comprising a. rotatable .match carrier and matchescarried thereby in a circular group with their heads outward, and

a casing with opposite walls movable relative to one another from aclosed position,'and means normally holding such walls in closedposition, said walls lying flatwise over the circular group of matches,one of said walls having in its side an opening situated in the path ofthe head portions of the matches in their rotation, and means at suchopening acting, upon contact of a match therewith as it rotates, to passthe head portion of the match outward through the opening.

6. A match package, comprising a holding member with a match receivingspace, a plurality of matches placed flatwise within such space, meansjoining the splint portions of the matches for bodily movement of theplurality of matches in said space of said holding member, and whichjoining means allow lateral movement 10 of individual matches crosswiseof the path 0! bodily movement of the matches, and automatic meansincluding an element adjacent the path of movement of the matches inposition when a match comes thereat to press a portion of such match tothe outside of the holding member, such match being thereby renderedaccessible for grasping by the fingers to remove it from the holdingmember.

SAMUEL MILONE.

